UKH

Possibly an odd topic for the running forum, but here goes.

For the last year I've been having a weekly dip in a lake. Ranging from up to hour in current water temps to a quick 10 or 25 mins in winter. I managed with trunks plus a long sleeved running top up to about February, then bought a sleeveless neoprene vest thing.

A few friends swim in wetsuits, but they look an immense faff to get on and off, especially when the after drop hits in winter.

I've seen a few people going in the water in triathlon and swim/run suits with front zips, and was wondering if they'd be an option for colder weather.

Anyone use one?

I wouldn't have thought a standard triathlon suit would do much at all to keep you warm, they are generally designed to be worn underneath a wetsuit if the water is at all cold, and be cool enough so you don't overheat on the run. The vast majority of triathlons are organised in the summer months.

A wetsuit is a bit of a faf, but only takes a few mins to put on and less than a minute to take off. And unless you are wim hof they make early season swimming so much more appealing 

I think you'd end up with incredibly numb extremities! But then I'm really nesh when it comes to cold water on my hands and feet (bizarrely it doesn't bother me when running through fellside streams in mid winter).

You might want to ask on the slowtwitch forums. They tend to know their stuff when it comes to swimming stuff.

Just use a normal surfers wetsuit if only bobbing around for a bit, pair up and just help each other unzip and peel off shoulders, not so manly or self sufficient, but helps reduce any finger nail damage ( on the suit, not your latest extensions or varnish).

We swim all year round in Cumbria. Wetsuits essential if you want to go for a proper swim during winter, rather than an Instagram dip! 

Keeping extremities warm is key though, booties and gloves definitely help. 

Yes, they could be deemed a “faff”, but once you’ve got used to getting them on and off, it’s not. 

Have swum in sea year round in Northern Isles.   

Folk I’ve been in the water with folk wearing everything from their own skin to a dry suit (which didn’t look great for swimming in).  We are all different and can tolerate cold water to different degrees.

My own personal spectrum of swim clothes goes

Swimmjng cossie with gloves and neoprene shoes 

As above with added hat

As above adding a rash vest (I have a lovely fleece lined long sleeved one)

As above with a sleeveless neoprene vest

Add neoprene shorts

Replace vest and shorts with full wetsuit.

Add hood.  
 

I find keeping my extremities covered makes a huge difference.  And being extremely organised with getting dry and warm quickly after getting out.  

A square metre of old rug to stand on, space to not have to hop or dance and somewhere to not have to put stuff down on that's dirt or gravel. The must have car boot item for anyone changing al fresco.

I thought you were talking about swim-run wetsuits at first, they are actually a thing. Might be a halfway house for you? https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/orca-men-s-core-swimrun-wetsuit.html

Totally - I have one in the boot of my car for exactly that purpose. 

Those are exactly the sort of thing I'm thinking about (Alpkit do a cheaper version).

Thanks to everyone else for the useful comments. Already sorted with the mat to stand on, cheap poncho type towel to change under, bootees and gloves (and hat) for winter etc. Also working on speed of getting changed.

In winter I'm usually ok if a tad chilly in the water, (after the initial swearing), but find I have a pretty short window to sprint to the car, strip off, dry and change before my hands stop working (Reynauds) and I start shaking so much I start spilling my hot drink over myself. Hence my interest in something with a front zip that comes off fairly rapidly.

Sounds like a Dryrobe or something similar would really help.  It’s like having a mobile changing pavilion.  The warm fleecy lining, wind proof fabric and hood make all the difference.  They are not paying me - honest

My wife goes swimming in the sea without a wetsuit every Sunday, including winter. She just walks in without stopping and off she goes for at least 20 minutes. We are several degrees south of you, but still. Given that she does this I wouldn't entirely trust her advice, but she has been very grateful for one of those trendy and voluminous Robie/Dryrobe things that you can change and keep warm in. They do look comfy and much better than my towel poncho.

Thinking about your 'get warm quick' routine is a good one actually. I've not been properly cold for a while (Raynaud's here too plus increasing cowardice) but when I swam in colder water being able to chuck your layers on quickly helps ...some clothes are better than others and nobody needs to waste good tea/coffee/hot chocolate shivering

Couldn't you just smother yourself in lard, like the cross channel swimmers used to do? If you film yourself putting it on, you could add it to the 'specialist' section in Only Fans.

I have furtively perused dryrobe catalogues, but:

1. How ****** much?..

2. Will I need to rename the dog 'Tarquin' or similar before I'm allowed to own one?

😉

Hmmm, perhaps a little too niche, unless there are some really depraved individuals who want to see lard both beneath and on top of hairy skin.

No, our cat is called Carlton and it works just fine.

5mm neoprene gloves make the world if difference in winter. Even swimming in just a cossie, having warm hands makes changing far easier. 

Also as someone else had said choose your post swim clothing wisely. Skin tight thermals are a nightmare to get on over a damp body, baggy layers are the way forward and lots of them.

I swam through winter without a dryrobe, yes they are nice but I had plenty of warm layers already and couldn't justify the expense. Also whilst it is possible to change under them I personally prefer the speed approach, which with practice can be done with minimal nudity and leaves you wrapped up and drinking hot tea whilst others are still doing contortionist routines under their robes.

Oh and in the subject of tea.... an uninsulated mug doubles as a hand warmer.

I contemplated a wetsuit, but decided that the speed of changing with a cossie was worth the extra pain of the cold. Also you don't get the sudden drop of temperature from taking off the wetsuit and exposing yourself to the cold air.

There are cheaper variants such as alpkits.

I think so or possibly have a kid/friend in the Uk kayak squad. I paddle at lee valley and its quite odd that none of the paddlers ever use them but the family members wander around in them whilst never even getting a toe in the course.

For front zip wetsuits. I have a palm one for kayaking. A lot quicker than a back zip one to get on and off but still a bit of a faff. In cold conditions definitely want to back it up with something flung over the top when changing (I have a poncho robey type thing partially for that and also not to scare random people when changing river/sea side).

Thanks for the info on the front zip, much appreciated.

Mrs Num Num looks like a Yokohama Fender in her swim/ run suit

I made my own changing robe out of old towels and some softshell fabric. I put a hood on it. It's more poncho shape but enormous so really easy to change under. Maybe not quite as warm as a dry robe, but the addition of softshell fabric really does help a lot. 

I always go for easy clothes post swim. So no faffing with underwear, or tight socks. I have warm bed socks which are a much looser fit and just jump straight into loose jogging bottoms and loose t-shirts and jumpers. 

Oh, and C-skins do a neoprene beanie which I much prefer wearing instead of normal neoprene swim hats. Really cosy and comfy enough to keep on while changing until I reach the normal hat.

They are ridiculously expensive but if you are doing loads of watersports they are worth it.  Mine was a Xmas pressie, and I’m tiny so I use a (cheaper) kids one.

I have read about them being worn by Tarquins elsewhere but where I am it tends to be a cross-section of daft middle aged wifies.  We look more like a coven or a cult when we gather on the beach.

Prior to the invention of the dryrobe I found my old Buffalo top excellent post swim warming clothing.